MLS Playoffs Day 1 Recap
Day 1 of the MLS playoffs featured four action-packed games and gave way to the new single-game elimination playoff format. A pair of western and eastern conference matches per side was played with the earliest of the matches starting at 10 am pst. We were treated to three games decided by only one goal and also two overtime matches. Here is a quick recap of the four games played on Day 1:
Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution
The defending 2018 MLS Cup Champions played host to the New England Revolution in the first game of the 2019 MLS Playoffs at the Mercedez Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Atlanta was looking to continue their run for a second title in their short history.
Both teams attacked the goals in the first half with Atlanta winning most of the 50/50 battles in the middle of the field but their high powered offense could not get past the back line of Bruce Arena and both teams went into the half with a scoreless draw.
The second half was all Revolution creating opportunities on both sides of the wings, but they could not finish their opportunities. Atlanta, who was not playing their best during the game they created and opportunity and did not miss.
Franco Escobar received a pass inside the box and sent a thunderous shot to the top post past Matt Turner for the lone goal of the game sending Atlanta to the next round, and will host the winner of the Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls series.
Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas
The Sounders and Dallas played a thrilling match in the second playoff game of the day in Seattle. The Sounders started the game firing on all cylinders taking an early 2-0 lead and it seemed as they would roll through the team from the lone star state with ease. After the 30thminute, though the Sounders began to slow down and in the second half, the young Dallas team tied the game in the 64th minute.
The game went into extra time after a 3-3 draw in regulation in which Dallas able to once again tie the game with a late goal in the 82nd minute. During extra time, the home team was able to wake up and during a scrummage inside the box the ball was flung up in the air and Jordan Morris was able to head the ball into the net in the 113th minute for his hat trick and the game-winning goal for the Sounders.
They will now play host to Real Salt Lake next
Toronto FC vs D.C. United
Toronto FC faced Wayne Rooney and D.C. United at home for the chance to play in New York against NYCFC. Toronto was a dominant force in the game and scored early as Marco Delgado caught a rebound after Bill Hamid blocked a magnificent shot, Delgado was able to just push the ball into the net in the 32nd minute and give Toronto the 1-0 lead.
Throughout the rest of the game, Toronto kept its foot on the gas creating opportunities from both wings and made D.C. keeper Hamid really work to maintain his team in the game. D.C. started to play against the clock and in the final 10 minutes of regulation tried to get the tying goal, and luckily for Rooney and his team they found the back of the net in the injury time as Wayne Rooney sent a corner into the box that Lucas Rodriguez was able to find and send in for the tying goal in the final seconds of regulation.
We were headed to overtime in Toronto in what painted to be a very exciting extra 30 minutes, the home team needed only five minutes of the overtime to really seal this game as they scored two goals in the 93rd minute and 95th minute. The team from the north was able to add an
Toronto knocked out D.C. United and Wayne Rooney out of the playoffs and punched their ticket to face the Eastern Conference powerhouse New York City FC on Oct. 23rd at 7 pm ET.
Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers
Salt Lake and Timbers played in the final game on Day 1 of the MLS playoffs and it was a tough battle for both teams that went down to the wire. Real was playing at home and are trying to send their great goalie Nick Rimando, to retirement as MLS champion. The team from Utah struck first in the 28th minute by the head of Damir Kreilach, they took the lead into the half.
The Timbers scored early in the second half tying the game off a corner kick header by Dairon Asprilla in the 47th minute. Both teams would go on creating opportunities but not be able to finish in goal.
The game seemed to be destined for overtime as the game was in the 86th minute but Jefferson Savarino made sure the game ended in regulation as he scored a late game-winner that punched Salt Lake’s ticket into the Western Conference Semifinals in the 87th minute. Salt Lake will now head to Seattle to face the Sounders on Oct. 23rd
